Adding On To The Under-The-Stairs Project

 

It's a difficult space to photograph, but here's it is.  I am slowly finishing this project.  I'm still not calling it done yet, because the kids insist that I add some "good" pirates.  Maybe I'll even add a Tinkerbell.  Who knows???

 

I added a Jolly Roger.  Yes, it has a skull and cross bones, it wouldn't be a pirate ship without one.

 

Captain Hook wants to follow the dots to the treasure.  But, will Tick Tock Croc get him before he makes it across the water?

 

There's a hungry Tick Tock Croc... look out, Captain Hook!!

 

A close-up of the palm trees.  I like how they turned out.  I didn't paint the sky on this side like I did on the other.  It was a lot of wall and I wouldn't have had enough paint.  Alas...

Let It Go

 

Mercedes saw this fake hair at the dollar store and decided right then that she just had to be Elsa for Halloween.

 

It's no surprise that that first time she tried it on she had to belt out the song, Let It Go, in front of the mirror.  And, she also requested that I take her picture.  That also was no surprise.  Most fake hair looks really fake, especially when it is from the dollar store.  This looks fake, too, but I was very impressed with how it matches the color of her hair almost exactly. 

Joshua Happenings

Joshua had an exciting afternoon last Sunday.  We were at my inlaws house for Sunday dinner.  Joshua was playing with his first loose tooth when Nick scared him so bad that it went flying out of his mouth and has yet to be found.  I think he swallowed it.  Joshua came up to me and said that he had lost his first tooth.  I think I gave him a great reaction because I was equally happy/excited for him as I was grossed out. 

It's too bad we couldn't find it.  He prayed for it, as did myself and Mercedes, but it hasn't turned up.  We did write a note to the tooth fairy, and we rubbed the note on his teeth so that she would smell it and come even though there wasn't a tooth under his pillow.  The note said that he had lost his lost tooth and wanted to know if he could still have a prize.  She left him a dollar.  Luke has been trying to pull his teeth out so that some of the excitement will revolve around him.

The other day, Joshua ran an entire football field and made a touchdown for his team.  I wasn't there, but it was a really proud moment for both father and son.  He has been doing really well with flag football and is probably the best one on him team. 

 

Mercedes Quotes

Mercedes has said some funny things recently.

The other day I hung a picture of Jesus is their bedroom.  They never mentioned it.  So, one night after prayers and scriptures, I asked them if they had noticed.  Joshua said that he had noticed, he claimed he had noticed several days earlier.  He just never said anything because he didn't think he needed to.  Then, I turned to Mercedes and she was staring at the picture dreamily.  She said, "Yes, Mom, I noticed.  Jesus looks so handsome, I wish I could just kiss him."  Ummm, not sure how I feel about that one. 

The other day was picture day at the elementary school.  Mercedes was very excited about that.  She wanted to wear her fanciest church dress.  When I told her she would have a difficult time playing on the playground in it, she changed her mind.  That's when we had to try on several different outfits because what she wore was a BIG deal.  She also really wanted curlers in her hair. 

So, the night before, I put the curlers in her hair.  She was so pleased that she exclaimed, "Oh, yes!  I will be beautiful!  No one else will be beautiful, just me!"  I'm not so sure how I should feel about that either, nevertheless, her enthusiasm was quite hysterical.  I did tell her that she was already beautiful, but that the curlers would make her hair look especially nice for the special occasion.

She is a determined, strong-willed, beautiful (and apparently vain) little girl :)  I can't imagine what our family would be like without her spunk and enthusiasm for life.  She keeps life exciting and we love her.

This Little Booger

 

I swear if his eyes get any bigger or bluer I will pluck them out and surgically implant them onto myself.  Disturbing??  I'm kidding, but he does have eyes to make one envy. 

 

He's my pal and "my main man".  He is no one else's main man.  Just mine.  He says so, so it must be true.  He is very much a momma's boy, and while Jon Mark hopes he out grows it, I am enjoying it. 

 

The other day, he told me a joke.  I wish I could remember what it was.  I remember is was quite clever, but the part I loved the most was when he smiled at me afterward.  It was a smile of complete satisfaction at his own cleverness.  I wish I could display that smile here, but I only took a mental picture, and technology is not quite that advanced. 

Stinky Face

 

I love this little stinky face.  She is so funny. 

 

When she wants something, she hold out her hand while opening and closing it, and says, "thank you" over and over again. 

 

Along with climbing the stairs like a champ, this little lady also repeats everything you say.  She can mimic most words really well.  I hold her and tell her, "Hannah, say diaper" (for example) and she says diaper.

 

She loves saying hi to her dad and loves giving him hugs and kisses.

 

When she gives kisses, she still head-butts, but she has added the "mmmwah" sound effect.

 

One last thing, she empties the art cupboard every day, all day long...

Art Work

 

Joshua drew this battle ship the other day.  He tries to be very detailed in his artwork when it has to do with a battle scene.  But, as you can see in the picture below, he isn't all that detailed when it comes to people.  He likes stapling paper together and making it into a book.  He recently featured myself and Jon Mark and how much he loves us.  I found the picture below when I was rummaging through some paperwork.  How sweet.

 

Here is another battle scene.  This one is a Star Wars scene.  You can see the imperial destroyers flying about and the Millennial Falcon.   

 

This is art from Mercedes.  She loves drawing really long hair.  But, if you look closely you will notice that Princess Padme is carrying a baby.  And, if you look even closer you will notice that the baby has two side buns.  It is a drawing of Padme and Anakin Skywalker and the baby Princess Leia.

This next drawing is an exact portrait of myself.  That is what I look like... well, in MerMer's eyes, anyway.  Last Sunday, as we sat and listened to the youth speaker, Mercedes told me that she wanted to draw me.  Tilt your head and squint your eyes, do you see me now???  I especially love how she gave me very long eyelashes and spirit fingers.  Don't I look well-rested and excited to be there?  I also love how she copied the neckline of my dress, although, it was not a plunging neckline as the pictures portrays it to be.  And, although I love long hair, my hair is not nearly as long.  Other than that, it's pretty much an exact replica.  :)